On Wednesday we travelled to Bidborough CC in the third round of Border League games looking to build on the great starts against Cowdrey. Bidborough were going to be a tougher proposition having beaten Tunbridge Wells by 8 wickets the previous week.

Jack Berger-North, Zachary Lenhart, Jack Walker and Ben Easterbrook coming into the team for their debuts and what a terrific game we had!

Bidborough won the toss and decided to bat. Sam Collens and Freddie Knox opened up with the latter struggling for accuracy bowling down the hill with a slope forcing the ball wide of the stumps. But it was Harry B-T making the breakthrough in the 5th over, bowling O’Donnell with his quicker ball. George Conley replaced FK and bowled Baker for 0 in his first over, HBT then bowled Sheperdson in his second over with Seth Zuberi getting in on the act in his first over bowling Poulsom for 0. Some excellent bowling with Bidborough’s numbers 3, 4 & 5 not managing a run between them. At the half way mark Bidborough were 49-4.

Wickham and Braithwaite put together a good partnership for Bidborough before Wickham retired for 25*, which brought Genders to the crease who SZ ran out with a direct throw, terrific fielding! Charles Tetley got in on the act having Mayne caught by HBT, but Braithwaite and Beazleigh took Bidborough to 115-6 off their 20 overs. Bidborough’s second 10 overs gaining 66-2, which was a little disappointing as I felt the fielding and bowling got a little ragged which we need to work on. We also gave away 25 runs through wides and no balls this would not have been helped by the slope but it was the highest total of extras in our 3 games. We need to improve on this.

I felt that Thomas Glaister and Jack Berger-North kept very well, especially the latter on his debut.

116 to win was our highest run chase to date but I was confident with our batting line up that we could get over the line. However, GC had to retire hurt after being hit by a beamer first ball from their opening bowler, ZI then went LBW in the next over. TG joined HBT and got the scoreboard moving in the right direction with the score moving to 39 before TG was bowled in the 7th over for 3. FK came to the crease and played a beautiful shot through the leg side for 4 but was bowled next ball. We reached 61-3 after 10 overs. GC courageously came back into bat and joined BHT before the latter retired for an excellent 27*. SC joined GC with 45 needed off 9 overs. They both batted sensibly against some good pace bowling and reached 102 before SC was bowled for 12 by Bidborough’s opening bowler with 16 needed off 3 overs which soon became 14 off two overs after a very good over of pace bowling.

By this stage it was 8.35pm with the light fading fast which made for a tough proposition facing up to some quick bowling. The penultimate over went for 10 runs with 3 wides bowled. 4 was need to win off the last over, SZ hit through the legside for 2 off the first ball but was bowled off the second. CT came to the crease, no pressure! Two dots and then a quick single brought GC to face with one needed off the last ball. He failed to make contact and then ran to the keeper but CT was run out by yards. Game Tied/Drawn. 155-6, Bidborough gave away 51 extras!

A great game and felt the boys acquitted themselves very well against a team of mainly Year 6 boys, still work to be done on all elements of the game but I have been very impressed with the attitude and team ethic to date.

Man of the Match – Sam Collens – Good accurate bowling and sensible batting in the middle order